Israel’s “Post-Covid” 2021 Elections: Continuity and Change
Wednesday, Apr 7 2021, 2:00-3:30 pm EST| Register here
The speakers will analyze the 4th Israeli election in:- 2 years. They will analyze the latest results, compare them to the last 3 elections, and discuss coalition possibilities and their implications. As Israel muddles forward in an attempt to establish a new government – notwithstanding the continued division over the legitimacy of Benyamin Netanyahu’s candidacy for Prime Minister – “round four” was in fact surprisingly different than the earlier three elections rounds. How will varied possible coalitions shape Israeli domestic and foreign policies? What are the prospects of a fifth election in the coming year? Among the topics to be explored: the evolving influence of Israel’s Arab citizens; a crack in ultra-Orthodox allegiances; and Israeli society’s growing complacency towards racist political parties. Come join the analysis followed by discussion.
Professor Yael Aronoff
Yael Aronoff is the Director of the Michael and Elaine Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel and and is Serling Chair of Israel Studies. Dr. Aronoff is Associate Professor of Political Science/International Relations in James Madison College at MSU. She is currently serving as the President of the Association of Israel Studies. She is a recipient of the MSU 2011 Teacher-Scholar Award and the 2015 MSU John K. Hudzik Emerging Leader in Advancing International Studies and Programs Award. Dr. Aronoff has two books published, The Political Psychology of Israeli Prime Ministers: When Hard-Liners Opt for Peace (Cambridge University Press 2014), and her co-edited book, Continuity and Change in Political Culture: Israel and Beyond with Ilan Peleg and Saliba Sarsar, (Lexington Books, 2021). She has written multiple articles and book chapters on varied aspects of Israeli politics and foreign policy. Dr. Aronoff has given over 100 public lectures and provides lectures as part of the Association of Jewish Studies Distinguished Lectureship Program and the Association of Israel Studies Distinguished Lectureship Program.
Dr. Alon Tal
Alon Tal is a professor of public policy at Tel Aviv University and has been a Serling Visiting Israeli scholar at MSU’s James Madison College since 2015. He is among the founding members of Israel’s Blue & White party and has run on their list of candidates for Knesset four times, most recently in the March 2021 elections when he oversaw their sustainability platform and campaign. In the past, Dr. Tal served as co-chair of Israel’s Green Party. Tal founded the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, a graduate studies center in which students join Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian environmentalists to study common environmental challenges and solutions. Dr. Tal served as the co-chair of Israel’s Green Party. He is the author and co-editor of eleven books including: Michael, K. Tal, A. Khenin, D., Lindenstrauss, G., Bukchin, S., Editors, Climate Change, Environment and National Security, A New Front (2021); The Land Is Full: Addressing Overpopulation in Israel (2016); All the Trees of the Forest: Israel’s Woodlands from the Antiquity to the Present (2013); Water Wisdom: Preparing the Groundwork for Cooperative and sustainable Water Management in the Middle East, (eds., with Alfred Abed Rabbo, 2010); and Pollution in a Promised Land – An Environmental History of Israel (2002).
Professor Elie Rekhess
Elie Rekhess, is one of Israel’s leading experts on the Arab minority in Israel and Jewish-Arab relations. He recently authored, edited, and co-edited: Muslim Minorities in non-Muslim Majority Countries: The Test Case of the Islamic Movement in Israel (2013); The Arab Society in Israel: A Compendium (2009); Arab Youth in Israel: Caught between Prospects and Risk (2008);The Arab Minority in Israel: An Analysis of the ‘Future Vision’ Documents (2008); The Arab Minority in Israel and the 17th Knesset Elections (2007); Together but Apart: Mixed Cities in Israel (2007); The Evolvement of an Arab-Palestinian National Minority in Israel (2007).: